Concealed visor

Abstract

A visor includes a mounting structure secured to the headliner of a vehicle above a window and a pair of parallel spaced arms, each pivotally coupled at one end to the mounting structure secured to the vehicle headliner and having opposite ends pivotally secured to a visor. A cross arm extends between the spaced arms and is pivotally connected at each end to one of the arms at a position not aligned with the pivot connections of the arms to the vehicle or visor. The visor can be translated by rotation of the parallel arms between a raised or stored position above the window downwardly to a lowered use position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a module which can be snap-fitted to the vehicle roof is provided with the visor, and its control mechanism being recessed behind a decorative panel. In one embodiment of the invention, a motor is coupled to one of the pivot points to electrically lower and raise the visor to any selected position.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A visor control assembly for a vehicle comprising: a visor body;   at least a pair of substantially parallel rigid arms spaced from one another and means for pivotally coupling one end of each arm to said visor body at spaced locations thereon;   means for pivotally coupling each parallel arm to a vehicle to permit movement of said visor panel on said arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position; and   a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having opposite ends pivotally coupled to said parallel arms to stablize the motion of said parallel arms wherein the pivot coupling of each end of said cross arm is offset from a line between the pivot couplings of each parallel arm to said visor body and a vehicle, and wherein each parallel arm is shaped to provide said offset pivotal coupling of said cross arm to said parallel arms.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally coupling each of said parallel arms to said visor body comprises a lower arm extending between and pivotally coupled to said parallel arms. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for pivotally coupling each of said parallel arms to said visor body further includes a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said visor body or lower arm and extending generally parallel to the plane of said visor body and means mounted to the other of said visor body or lower arm for pivotally supporting said pivot rod to permit said visor to move in fore and aft directions in a vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for pivotally coupling each arm to a vehicle comprises a support arm to which ends of said parallel arms are pivotally secured. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including a cover panel positioned to cover said support arm and visor body when in a raised position and permitting said visor to extend therethrough for movement to a lowered position. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cross arm is generally parallel to said lower arm. 
     
     
       7. A visor control assembly for a vehicle comprising: a visor body;   at least a pair of substantially parallel arms spaced from one another and a lower arm extending between and pivotally coupled to said parallel arms at one end for pivotally coupling said one end of each arm to said visor body at spaced locations thereon;   a support arm for pivotally coupling an end of each parallel arm to a vehicle to permit movement of said visor panel on said arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position;   a cover panel positioned to cover said support arm and visor body when in a raised position and permitting said visor to extend therethrough for movement to a lowered position;   a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having opposite ends pivotally coupled to said parallel arms to stabilize the motion of said parallel arms wherein the pivot coupling of each end of said cross arm is offset from the pivot couplings of each parallel arm to said visor body and vehicle and wherein each parallel arm is arcuate to provide said offset pivotal coupling of said cross arm to said parallel arms; and   a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said visor body or lower arm and extending generally parallel to the plane of said visor body and means mounted to the other of said visor body or lower arm for pivotally supporting said pivot rod to permit said visor to move in fore and aft directions in a vehicle.   
     
     
       8. A visor assembly for a vehicle including a visor body, a visor control for moving said visor body, and adjustment means coupling said visor body to said visor control, wherein said visor control comprises: a pair of parallel rigid arms spaced from one another and means for pivotally securing one end of each arm to said adjustment means;   a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having ends pivotally coupled to said parallel arms to stabilize the motion of said parallel arms wherein the pivot coupling of each end of said cross arm is offset from a line between the pivot couplings of each parallel arm to said adjustment means and vehicle headliner; and   means for pivotally securing each parallel arm to a vehicle headliner to permit movement of said visor panel by said arms in a plane generally orthogonal to the pivot axes of said arms and generally parallel with said arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said adjustment means includes a lower arm extending between and pivotally coupled to said parallel arms at said one ends. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said adjustment means further includes a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said visor body or lower arm and extending generally parallel to the plane of said visor body and means mounted to the other of said visor body or lower arm for pivotally supporting said pivot rod to permit said visor to move in fore and aft directions in a vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said securing means comprises a support arm to which ends of said parallel arms are pivotally secured. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 and further including a cover panel positioned to cover said support arm and visor body when in a raised position and permitting said visor to extend therethrough for movement to a lowered position. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said cross arm is generally parallel to said lower arm. 
     
     
       14. A visor assembly for a vehicle including a visor body, a visor control for moving said visor body, and adjustment means coupling said visor body to said visor control, wherein said visor control comprises: at least a pair of parallel arms spaced from one another and means for pivotally securing one end of each arm to said adjustment means;   a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having ends pivotally coupled to said parallel arms to stabilize the motion of said parallel arms wherein the pivot coupling of each end of said cross arm is offset from a line between the pivot couplings of each parallel arm to said adjustment means and vehicle headliner, and wherein each parallel arm is arcuate to provide said offset pivotal coupling of said cross arm to said parallel arms; and   means for pivotally securing each parallel arm to a vehicle headliner to permit movement of said visor panel by said arms in a plane generally orthogonal to the pivot axes of said arms and generally parallel with said arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position.   
     
     
       15. A visor assembly comprising: a visor body;   a visor control including a pair of parallel rigid arms spaced from one another and means for pivotally securing one end of each arm to a vehicle headliner and means for pivotally mounting the opposite end of each parallel arm to a visor body for translating said visor body in a pivoting manner in a plane generally parallel to a vehicle window between a raised stored position and a lowered use position wherein each of said parallel arms include three apertures formed therein and arranged in a pattern of a triangle with an aperture near each end of each of said parallel arms for the pivot connection of each arm to a vehicle at one end and a visor body at the opposite end and wherein the remaining aperture is located between the first named apertures; and   a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having ends pivotally coupled to said remaining aperture of said parallel arms to stabilize the motion of said parallel arms.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said parallel arms are arcuate-shaped. 
     
     
       17. A visor assembly comprising: a visor body;   a visor control adapted to be mounted to a vehicle headliner for mounting the visor body thereto for translating said visor body in a pivoting manner in a plane generally parallel to a vehicle window between a raised stored position and a lowered use position wherein said visor control comprises at least a pair of parallel arms spaced from one another and means for pivotally securing one end of each arm to said adjustment means, a cross arm extending between said parallel arms and having ends pivotally coupled to said parallel arms to stabilize the motion of said parallel arms, wherein each parallel arm is arcuate to provide offset pivotal coupling of said cross arm to said parallel arms;   means for pivotally securing each parallel arm to a vehicle headliner to permit movement of said visor panel by said arms in a plane generally orthogonal to the pivot axes of said arms and generally parallel with said arms between a raised stored position and a lowered use position;   adjustment means for coupling said visor control to said visor body to permit said visor body to be moved in a fore and aft direction when in a lowered use position, wherein said adjustment means includes a lower arm extending between and pivotally coupled to said parallel arms at said one ends and a pivot rod fixedly mounted to one of said visor body or lower arm and extending generally parallel to the plane of said visor body and means mounted to the other of said visor body or lower arm for pivotally supporting said pivot rod to permit said visor to move in fore and aft directions in a vehicle; and   a cover panel positioned to cover said support arm and visor body when in a raised position and permitting said visor to extend therethrough for movement to a lowered position.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said cross arm is generally parallel to said lower arm.